51th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
Item 3 - Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.
Statement delivered by the Permanent Representative Ambassador Darius Staniulis
20 September 2022
Thank you Mr. President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Norway, Sweden, and my own country Lithuania.
We thank the Working Group for the report and its addendums.
As this year marks the 30th anniversary of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, we regret to acknowledge that enforced disappearance continues to be an alarming reality. As stipulated by the article 7 of the Declaration, no circumstances whatsoever, whether a threat of war, a state of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked to justify enforced disappearances.
Continued reports of reprisals faced by families of victims and the human rights defenders, as well as increasing numbers of enforced disappearance of journalists and media workers are particularly alarming.
We urge all States to immediately stop and prevent enforced disappearances, initiate impartial and independent investigations and protect the rights of the victims and their families. We also reiterate our call to countries concerned to engage and cooperate with the Working Group in order to facilitate their important work.
What additional measures could this Council take to improve the implementation of the Declaration?
I thank you.